Am I the only one in here??

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Specializes in SDU/MS/Tele Float.

Hi! I feel like Im in limbo lately and I need a little bit of advice. Im turning 30 this year, I have this feeling that I might not want what Im doing right now. I work in county hospital with great benefits, free medical insurance, retirement accounts etc.. I also work with a lot of older nurses who are retiring in the next 5-10 years. My question is am I crazy to quit a very stable job, with great benefits etc.. I just have this feeling of " I don't want to wait for retirement to enjoy my life!". I don't want to be attached to a job just because of its benefits, retirement etc. No offense to everyone who worked 25-30 years as nurse. I love being a nurse but i just feel like i don't want to lead the same life as everyone else (work 3 12's + extra job then stay at a job for 30 years then hopefully reap the benefits of diligently putting money for retirement.)

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

If you don't have anything to tie you down like kids, debt, etc., chase your dream. You're young enough that you can always jump back into the rut later.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

Sounds like you want a little excitement: work in the E.R. maybe ICU

Specializes in Psychiatry, Oncology.

The thing is, in today's world any job that pays well and gives decent benefits demands that you spend most of your waking hours working. So, it's a trade off. If you are ready to make significant adjustments to your lifestyle and live with less to be happy - absolutely, go for it!

I just turned 50, and I very much do not want to give up my nice life style. Having fun is just as important and enjoyable at 50 than 30. I'm pretty sure I will feel the same at 70. Life interrupted my retirement plans and I've been with a small company so I have A LOT of catching up to do. Make sure you're doing something significant for your retirement regardless of where you work. You don't have to have the best medical, a rare $7,500 OOP isn't going to make much difference but long term savings/investment will.

Heck with that! Everything is always changing. Everything. Next year, your benefit package may suck worse, or they might lay off, or you'll get a new manager with a personality disorder lol. You can guarantee you will NOT be doing the same thing for 25 - 30 years EVEN IF YOU TRIED :D . Life in the workplace ain't like that no more!

It may be very worth it to you to pay some for your health insurance and take a job that stretches your comfort zone and gives you something to really look forward to each time you work.

I remember feeling a LOT the same at around age 30. No offense but I think 30 years old is when true maturity sets in (on average of course). There is no more magical thinking, no more 'pie in the sky', things are getting practical and you WANT it that way :) Choices are becoming limited and more realistic, you know what to expect and hope for and what to let go of.

As hard as it might be, imagine yourself on your death bed, thinking back over your life. Will you sigh with pleasure and satisfaction that you chose to stay SAFE rather than take a few well calculated risks? It doesn't sound like you will :D

There are no rules or laws, and no predictable 'this is the only right way to go'. That's from personal experience, and I'll be 50 this year too. I couldn't agree more about the retirement, that's one thing to have personal 'rule' about, but the rest? Go for it!

Specializes in geriatrics.

I didn't go back to school until I was 30, and I'm still debating my next move. Maybe you could do some travel nursing or just travel for fun. You might also consider teaching English while traveling. There are always options.....

Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I would never want to work in the same job for 25 years. But yeah, I plan to work as a nurse until I retire and don't work anymore. The beauty of nursing is that you can do SO many different things. In the decade I've worked as a nurse, I've worked in three pretty different settings/roles.

I get not wanting to be at the same job for 25 years, but working as a nurse - well, what else would you want to be doing?

Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

i will be 66 in march

42.5yrs

i would not trade the physician office envirment i now have for anything ;)

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